The conference "Women Resist Occupation and War" was held in Israel/Palestine at the request of the participants of the previous Women in Black conference held in Italy in August 2003. (We also held one of the international conferences in Jerusalem in December-January 1994-95).

The conference dealt not only with the Israeli-Palestine conflict, but with the broader issues of women, war, and peace-making. We invited women to share with us their thoughts about the proposed theme and, in general tell us their opinions and preferences.

The conference was coordinated jointly by Israeli and Palestinian women. However, since there is no movement of Women in Black in Palestine, and since the Israeli army prevents us from entering each other's areas (only internationals are allowed to cross), there were great difficulties in trying to plan this together. Nevertheless, both sides were committed to coordinating the planning and implementation of the conference. Palestinian women also conducted the solidarity visit in the occupied territory.

We were painfully aware that some of the most courageous Women in Black in the world were banned by the Israeli authorities from entering this region because of their previous human rights work in Palestine. Others wanted to attend, but could not afford to come. Therefore we made every effort through the use of modern technology to make the deliberations accessible to our sisters who could not attend.

We also issued a call to activist women from distant regions of conflict to attend so they could enrich us with their experiences and take from us the power of our solidarity. To that end, Women in Black from privileged countries everywhere sent in contributions and thereby sponsored the costs of participation of women from these regions.

The planning of this conference was an arduous effort, but we believe the product was richer, more egalitarian, more feminist, and more powerful for everyone.

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